An East Tennessee nonprofit is working hard to help everyone have access to transportation. Kickstand Community Bike Shop in Knoxville is making that happen by giving away bicycles to students, people experiencing homelessness and anyone else in need.
They get bikes through donations, bike drives and partnerships, then volunteers repair them before distributing them to people in the community. Kickstand currently partners with the Boys and Girls Club and YWCA and now they’re expanding their efforts to Knoxville area schools so they can give more young people the opportunity to ride.
Kickstand is an all-volunteer organization and they don’t just give out bikes, they teach recipients bike mechanics to keep them rolling. Paul Laudeman, a driving force and volunteer for the nonprofit, says all of their volunteers are passionate about fixing things, bikes and helping people. “It’s just a good feeling, you know,” he says, adding, “I love bicycles.”
Source: WBIR